Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A housing is provided with a flat playing surface at least a portion of which is transparent and bearing a plurality of playing spaces identified by dice-related numbers with different betting odds. Below the playing surface and within the housing is a rotary table mounted below the transparent portion of the playing surface and in close proximity to surrounding cylindrical side walls. A plunger actuated mechanism is provided for rotating the table to spin dice in a random fashion. The game is played by each participant placing chips or the like on a selected space on the playing board. The numbered spaces on the board correspond to different number combinations on the dice and the player wins whenever a number combination comes up on the dice which corresponds with the numbered space on the board on which he has placed his chips.

United States Patent [191 Zohn [ Sept. 25, 1973 BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Nathan Zohn, 59 Manchester Rd., Brookline, Mass.

22 Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 207,366

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/130 H, 273/l45 E [5| 1 Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/135, M5, 130

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,577,087 l2/l95l Meeks 273/145 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 781.777 3/1935 France 273/145 E 349,357 3/l905 France 273/145 E Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Att0rneyGerald Altman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A housing is provided with a flat playing surface at least a portion of which is transparent and bearing a plurality of playing spaces identified by dice-related numbers with different betting odds. Below the playing surface and within the housing is a rotary table mounted below the transparent portion of the playing surface and in close proximity to surrounding cylindrical side walls. A plunger actuated mechanism is provided for rotating the table to spin dice in a random fashion. The game is played by each participant placing chips or the like on a selected space on the playing board. The numbered spaces on the board correspond to different number combinations on the dice and the player wins whenever a number combination comes up on the dice which corresponds with the numbered space on the board on which he has placed his chips.

1 Claim; 2 Drawing Figures Wax BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF .THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to parlor games and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved game apparatus having a playing board with a self-contained dice tumbler which is readily visible on the face of the board and which is inaccessible to the players.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are many parlor games in which participating players use dice as a determining factor. Such games of chance are often used in association with a board on which playing pieces are moved along a path from one space to another. Normally, these games of chance involve a separate board with appropriately marked spaces and a set of dice which may be thrown by hand or tumbled in a cup, for example. There are several drawbacks to games of chance in which the dice are thrown by the players. First of all, the dice become separated from the game and often become lost during storage. Also, during the play of the game, a relatively wide area is required in which the dice must be rolled. A further disadvantage is that those who are particularly skilled in the use of dice may have an advantage over those who are relatively inexperienced in their use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game apparatus having a playing board provided with an integral dice tumbling device in which the dice are readily visible to players yet inaccessible to them. It is a further object of this invention toprovide a tamper-proof game apparatus involving a dice tumbling device. Still another object of this invention is to provide a game apparatus of compact integrated construction and which is playable by young and old alike.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features a game apparatus comprising a housing forming an enclosure and including a substantially flat upper wall providing a playing surface. Marked spaces are providedabout the playing surface and bear identifying indicia and other information related to the playing of the game. Upright cylindrical walls are disposed within the housing below the playing surface and a rotary turntable is mounted within the cylindrical walls to carry and tumble dice thereon. The turntable and cylindrical walls define a chamber closed at its top by the upper wall of the housing which upper wall is transparent at least in this area so that the dice are visible to the players. An actuator is drivingly connected to theturntable to permit the table to be rotated and the dice tumbled by one or more of the players.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view in perspective of a game apparatus made according to the invention, and,

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view, partly cut away, showing the dice and turntable mechanism of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the reference character generally indicates a housing having a box configuration formed of upright side walls 12 and 14, end

walls 16 and 18, a horizontal bottom wall 20 and a horizontal upper wall 22. In the preferred embodiment the housing walls, with the exception of the top wall, are of metal, plastic, wood or other structural material while the top wall 22 is of .a transparent material, such' as glass, clear acrylic plastic or the like. The playing surface 22 is divided into a plurality of playing areas 24 equal in number to the number of possible numerical combinations that may be rolled by a conventional pair of dice 26. The playing areas 24 are shown square in configuration and, insofar as the illustrated embodiment relates to a horse-racing game, each square may be illustrated with a horse and rider bearing a number from 2 to 12 corresponding to the possible dice combinations. Also, associated with each playing area 24 is a set of betting odds 27 randomly selected and typical of odds normally encountered in horse racing.

The playing squares may be printed directly on the glass top 22 or, preferably, may be printed on a backing sheet 28 mounted on the underside of the transparent top 22. The sheet 28 preferably is opaque and is formed with a central circular opening 30 toexpose through the upper glass wall 22 the dice 26 which are disposed within a cavity formed by means of upright cylindrical sidewalls 32 the'upper rim of which terminates adjacent the inner face of the upper transparent wall 22. The inner surfaces of the cylindrical wall 32 are covered with a frictional cushioning material 34 such as felt, flocking or the like. Mounted within the cavity in recessed relation to the wall 22 is a circular turntable 36 having an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the walls 32 to permit the turntable 36 to rotate within the cavity with minimum clearance around its outer edge. The upper surface of the turntable 36 is'also covered with a cushioning material 38 such as felt or flocking for example. When the turntable is rotated by means to be described below, the dice 26arethrown outwardly'by centrifugal force and engage the cylindrical walls 32 tobe tumbled about in a random fashion. The frictional cushioning material thus serves toinsure that the dice will tumble rather than slide when they are spun out against the cylindrical walls.

The turntable is rotated by means of a plunger or rod 40 extending horizontally outward through the end wall 18 whereby one player may rotate the turntable for all players or each player may actuate the rod in turn. The

rod extends into the housing below the turntable and is formed at its inner end with rack teeth 42 which mesh with a pinion gear 44 rotatably mounted to a block 46 and a wall 48. The pinion 44 is formed with a pin 50 at each end, the pin'sbeing mounted in slots 52 formed in the wall 48 and the block 46. The pinion 44 is also fixed to a larger gear 54 adapted to mesh with a pinion 56 re tatably supported in a bearing 58 within the block 46 and fixed to a post 60 carrying the turntable 36. When the rod 40 is pushed inwardly, the pinion gear is moved forwardly to cause the gears 54 and 56 first to mesh and then cause the gear 56 to rotate, this in turn rotating the turntable. Once the rod 40 is depressed to its full extent, it is released and a compressed spring 62 disposed about the rod 40 forces it to return outwardly, disengaging the gear 56 and permitting the turntable to rotate with a minimum amount of friction. A narrow flange64 projects downwardly from the end wall 18 to engage the edge of a table and prevent the housing from moving whenever the plunger 40 is pushed by a player.

The game is played by each participant selecting a particular sapce 24 and placing chips or the like within the selected square. When all players have made a selection, one of the players pushes the rod 40 to tumble the dice. The number appearing on the dice is the winner and any player having bet on that particular number will collect winnings representing his bet multiplied by the odds for that particular square. All other chips are collected for the house.

The game may be played by two or more players both young and old. The dice are mechanically rotated and inaccessible to the players. The dice cannot be tampered with nor can they become lost when the game is in storage. The apparatus may be used by itself or a separate playing cloth spread on a table or floor may be used in conjunction with the apparatus. The cloth may carry imprinted playing areas for a number of identified horses and playing odds similar to those appearing on the top wall of the apparatus. In this way, the players may be provided with more room and the dice may be tumbled using the tumbling apparatus illustrated. The dice tumbler is centrally located to be readily visible within the playing area to provide a very convenient and compact apparatus.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A game apparatus, comprising a. a housing having a flat upper wall forming a playing surface and a portion of which is transparent,

b. said surface being marked into -a plurality of uniquely numbered playing areas each marked with selected numerical betting odds,

c. upright cylindrical walls mounted in fixed position within said housing below said upper wall and having the top edges thereof in registration with the transparent portion of said upper wall,

d. a turntable rotatably mounted within said cylindrical walls and coaxial therewith,

e. at least one indicia bearing die on said turntable,

f. means external to said housing for rotating said turntable, and,

g. a layer of frictional cushioning material covering the inner surfaces of said cylindrical walls and the upper surface of said turntable,

h. said means including an elongated rack one end of which extends horizontally through said housing below said upper wall and gear means drivingly connected to said turntable and in mesh with said rack, said rack being adapted for longitudinal reciprocation,

i. said gear means including a pair of pinion gears the axes of which are mounted for relative displacement to permit meshing upon movement of said rack in one direction and disengagement thereof upon movement of said rack in an opposite direction. 

1. A game apparatus, comprising a. a housing having a flat upper wall forming a playing surface and a portion of which is transparent, b. said surface being marked into a plurality of uniquely numbered playing areas each marked with selected numerical betting odds, c. upright cylindrical walls mounted in fixed position within said housing below said upper wall and having the top edges thereof in registration with the transparent portion of said upper wall, d. a turntable rotatably mounted within said cylindrical walls and coaxial therewith, e. at least one indicia bearing die on said turntable, f. means external to said housing for rotating said turntable, and, g. a layer of frictional cushioning material covering the inner surfaces of said cylindrical walls and the upper surface of said turntable, h. said means including an elongated rack one end of which extends horizontally through said housing below said upper wall and gear means drivingly connected to said turntable and in mesh with said rack, said rack being adapted for longitudinal reciprocation, i. said gear means including a pair of pinion gears the axes of which are mounted for relative displacement to permit meshing upon movement of said rack in one direction and disengagement thereof upon movement of said rack in an opposite direction. 